8 THE NAUTILUS. 
Vertagus. The genus Natica as used by most writers is definitely 
divided into two genera, Natica, in which the operculum is shelly, 
and Polynices Montfort (1810), in which the operculum is thin, 
flexible, corneous. The last group contains, of course, the familiar 
duplicata and heros of our east coast, and the similar western spe- 
cies. This is a division heartily to be commended, and it is surpris- 
ing that it has not been placed upon a firm basis long ago. 
A very large nuinber of new species are described. The illus- 
trations are excellent, having the merit of great clearness of detail. 
The appearance of the volume is highly creditable to the Wagner 
Institute, the officers of which have, with an enlightened apprecia- 
tion of the importance of the work, spared no pains or expense in 
its production. Especially are the thanks of both Palzeontologist 
and Conchologist due to Messrs Joseph Willcox and Charles W. 
Johnson, who collected much of the material, as well as to Dr. 
Dall who has so ably worked it up. 
CESARE MARIA TAPPARONE CANEFRI. 
On the 6th of August, 1891, Cesare TAPppARONE CANEFRI 
expired after a long illness. Professor CrsARE TAPPARONE 
CANEFRI was born at Alexandria on the 5th of February, 1838, 
being descended from a noble Piedmontese family. His father was 
for many years Mayor, and destined his son for an official career- 
Tapparone, therefore, at the age of 20, entered the University of 
Turin as a law student; but he had already become interested in 
the natural sciences, especially botany. At Turin he formed a 
friendship with Lurct BeLLARpr and ViTroRE GHILIANT; and in 
the elevating atmosphere of that fellowship he developed the 
enthusiasm and love for science which pervaded his whole after life. 
A few years after his graduation, Tapparone was employed in the 
civil service of Spezzia; and there he was attracted by the rich 
shell fauna of the Gulf, which had already been studied by JEF- 
FREYS and CAPELLINI. Many species not known to these students 
were found by the young enthusiast, who, in 1865, embodied the 
results of his research in a “ Catalogue of the Mollusca of Spezzia,” 
his first conchological paper. Henceforth, the greater part of his 
time was given to the study of mollusks. He shortly became an 
assistant to Professor Lessona, in the Chair of Zoology and Com- 
